It was a wonderful weekend, as usual.
Friday began with a lot of faffing about due to double booking myself. I had agreed to spend the day at a client's house helping with their inbound house move. It was a move from the Isle of Arran to Manchester and with much potential for running modifications to fit stuff into the house.
It rained heavily as I did what I could to assist the moving process, including cutting holes in the brand new kitchen units to plumb the washing machine and making a temporary washer with some leather scrap. By 2pm I managed to escape and get on the road but I have list of things to do ASAP now.
The drive out, via a soaking at McD's in Chorlton as I tried to get some late lunch in the rain, was miserable due to the rain getting heavier. Then on the M60 there were signs saying that the M62 was closed between J22 and J24.
I decided to stay on the M62 and just follow any diversions. The 'not moving' bit took longer then the 'moving bit' up to that point, with the possible alternatives at J20 and J21 being heavy with traffic. Having sat at J22 for near 20 mins with the engine off something then happened. All the traffic shot off like the traps were opened. There was no indication of why the motorway was closed.
I eventually arrived in York shattered and not really in the best mood for making decisions so I just followed Arch's lead.
The drive over to Whitby was fine and the feast CL laid out for dinner was much appreciated, especially the smoked salmon!
The Friday night feast has to be the best part of the Whitby night ride.
The fire was lit using cardboard, drift wood and a little bit of greasy pasty paper bag before the coals were placed carefully around the flames to warm them. I managed to stab myself in the hand with my pen knife as I was still holding it when was tearing cardboard.
CL pointed out that some of the lights were not working on the stairs and I had a look at them. There were loose connections in most of the stair light switches and one of the lamp holders was lacking in a neutral connection. The non heat resistant flex was brittle and the end the electrical connections were taking all the weight of the lamp and the shade. That was repaired as best as could be done without recourse to buying new parts while balanced on a tall stool with Arch pointing a torch.
The bath water that night was a little rich in ferrous oxide but that cleared up over the weekend. I wasn't planing on doing plumbing this year.
The rescue run was quite exciting and has been described already. CL failed to wake me the first time round as I had only just fallen asleep and was hearing all sorts of noises and voices as I drifted into dream mode while working out how to make skirting boards curve around a 4" radius for 180 degrees. I was just waking again when CL popped her head around the door and said Kim was in trouble.
Not knowing the nature of the trouble I reacted as if for the worse and leapt into my clothes as Arch went to the bathroom. We rushed down to the kitchen to find that Kim was still cycling but need not to be. However, by then my BP was up and I had an adrenalin rush.
I did what I could to drive calmly without being too relaxed, to keep my BP down and was grateful for being stuck behind another car working its way through the darkness and then the fog.
Having spotted cyclists in the gloom I did a quick turn in the road using forward and reverse gears only to find that Kim wasn't with them. Another turn in the road and a mile further along presented a second group of cyclists, whereupon Kim was duly loaded and rescued.
Back at base camp there was an opportunity for about 50 minutes of closed eyes before a trek down to the cafe for a much needed breakfast.
Another period of closed eyes followed while listening to feet on stairs and bathroom usage before lunch and and a chance to investigate the other side of Whitby with Arch.
We climbed the 199 steps up to the church but didn't think much of the mobility accessible ramp alongside it. It looked a little steep and bumpy.
Spot the house!
There were some great skies and rainbow and we think Arch left her scarf at the abbey cafe.
On the way back to base camp we did some goth shop browsing. I found the shop where I was once tried on a big leather goth overcoat and said I would return with money £400, for it. That was back in 1996 I think, the coat wasn't there any more. Arch did get a photo of me trying on a hat. Maybe she will post it some time.
The ghost in the window was a nice surprise.
Click for video of it changing colour.
Sunday on the beach was bracing, but great fun trying to maroon people by making moats wider as the tide came in. I am still not sure whelks are a good substitute for ice cream though, even with a sprinkling of cockles!
Anyway, I am finally home this evening after a day sorting out our wedding date and squishing apples to make wedding cider.
Tired now. Bed and then work in the morning. Must remember to book an appointment with my local registry office to arrange my side of the wedding formalities.
Thank you CL for making it all a wonderfully organised, fun and foodie holiday. And thank you to everyone else for the great company and entertainment.
It was lovely finally meeting Nikki, too, and talking 'stuff'.
Looking forward to next year's Whitby dates.
